POLICE ARREST UNIVERSITY OF GHANA STUDENTS FOR DEALING IN DRUGS

The Legon police command on Saturday afternoon arrested some students of the University for engaging in some criminal activities.

The students were subsequently detained at the police station for questioning.

Although the police command did not confirm this report and its next line of action, Univers News can confirm that some of the students missed their papers that afternoon.

It is also not certain which hall these students belonged to as the police command wanted to complete investigations before coming public.

Although police is yet to confirm what kind of criminal activities these students were involved in, we understand it got to do with some hard drugs.

GENDER CENTRE AT UNIVERSITY OF GHANA AWARDS SONG WRITERS

Three music composers have been awarded prizes for their songs on women empowerment.

The songs by the three composers were performed on stage during the awards ceremony in Accra.

The composition of the three winning songs was part of a project initiated by the centre for gender studies and advocacy here at the University of Ghana.

The project was to organize a competition on songs that promote issues of women. The centre says it wants to work with musicians and media people to challenge them to reflect more on the lyrics of their songs.

HELP AGE INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR ON OLD AGE ISSUE

An international ambassador for the help age international has described as unfortunate the perception among many Ghanaians that the issue of old age concerns only the elderly in society.

Professor Araba Apt who is also the president of the help age Ghana says the issue of ageing is rather an issue that should concern the youth since they have the opportunity now to plan their future properly.

She tells Univers News that many elderly people have suffered in their retirement simply because they did not plan for their future while they were young.

Professor Apt who was speaking to Univers News after addressing a seminar on old age on campus wants people to have a complete perception about old age and all that is associated with it.

Meanwhile Ghana would in some months to come chair an international meeting being organized by the UN to integrate older people into society.

This meeting is part of efforts by the UN to draft a policy aimed at getting the elderly in society involved in developmental issues in their countries.

40 Percent of Police Officers in Ghana work 24 hours-a-Day

Over 40 percent of police officers in Ghana are said to be working beyond the required 8hours per day working hours, a situation which has affected their efficiency.

According to the Inspector General of Police, these officers work for nearly 24hours a day, which make s it difficult for them to have enough rest and refresh their minds.

Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye says this coupled with other issues such as lack of accommodation facilities as well as training has gone a long way to derail the work of the police service.

The IGP said this when he faced the public account committee of Parliament this morning to answer some questions regarding the state of the police service and how it is being managed.

The public hearing is on the Auditor General’s report on some key institutions and sectors.

The public hearing would focus on reports on business registration in the country, the Ghana Police residential accommodation, management of human resources for effective primary health delivery, accountability arrangements in solid waste management and public servants housing loan scheme.

World Water Week convenes in Stockholm

NEW YORK, USA, 17 August 2009 – Global leaders and policy makers are gathering in Stockholm, Sweden this week to discuss water-related challenges.

University of Ghana Students Hack into Computers

Reports reaching Univers News have it that some individuals have hacked into the computerised registration process of the Mensah Sarbah hall here at the University of Ghana.

These individuals we understand have manipulated the system which has resulted in the allocation of 17 beds illegally to some continuing students.
Officials of the hall detected the act last Monday when some continuing students were about to be allocated beds.

It is not clear yet who really is behind the act, but management of the hall has announced plans of arresting any continuing student who has been allocated bed.

Mensah Sarbah hall is the only hall of residence that has computerised its registration process which enables officials of the hall to conduct the registration exercise online.

This new development has forced the hall management to reverse to the manual system of registering as well as the allocation of beds to students.

University of Ghana Extends Registration Period for Continuing Students For 2009/10 Academic Year

The University of Ghana has extended the registration period for continuing students for this academic year from Monday August 17 to Friday August 21.

A statement issued by the university’s acting director of academic affairs noted that there would be no further extension after this new deadline.

Many continuing students have complained about the difficulties they are facing regarding the registration process particularly with the payment of fees and the subsequent notification of the university by the banks.

As it stands now, continuing students now have the leisure of going through the registration process until Friday after which those who are unable to register would have to defer their courses of study for the academic year.

The university had in an earlier statement indicated that there would be no penalties for students who fail to register before a stipulated deadline for registration. The statement noted that all students with special needs would have to channel their grievances through the SRC to the university.

Maths Camp For Junior and Senior High School Students Opens

Hundreds of junior and senior high school students have gathered at Lashibi for a mathematics camp which is currently underway.

The two week event which started last week is aimed at placing emphasis on the importance of mathematics and why students have to develop interest in the subject.

The residential camp which is being organised by Megasa Mathematics academy founded by Ghanaian mathematician, Professor S.E. Anku involves an intensive morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

Participants are being taken through various topics covering mathematics concepts, practical activities and problem solving.

The event would end next week.

Ghana's Efo Kodjo Mawugbe Wins BBC awards

Ghana’s Efo Kodjo Mawugbe has been awarded one of the top two prizes in this year’s BBC world service and British council international Radio playwriting competition.

The other winner is Erin Browne from the USA.

A joint statement from the BBC and the British council noted that Efo Kodjo Mawugbe won as the second language category with the play “the prison graduates”, described by the Judges as imaginative, muscular and hysterically funny.

The other top winner, thus Erin Browne won the first language category with her play “trying”.

The executive producer of the program has indicated that the agencies in charge of the competition are very much happy and thrilled with the two winners and their plays.